Bob Reed (1970-78)

I lived in Torremolinos off and on from 1970 until 1978. I taught swimming at Playamar.

Torremolinos, in those days, was truly a uniquely wonderful place and time. Franco was in power and in the early 70's, everyone respected the Guardia Civil and the law.

The bars and nightclubs were full of people, all from different countries, speaking different languages, and yet there was very little violence or crime. I used to tell Americans who would critize Spain as a Dictatorship that it was true, Spain had a Dictator, but a lady could walk unaccompanied at 3 in the morning in the worst parts of Malaga and not be molested. That was not true in any American city.

Everything was so inexpensive. A gin and tonic would normally sell for about 30 cents American in any little bar or restaurant.  Tina's was THE popular bar. After Tina, who used to sing along with the stereo, left, an Englishman bought Tina's but left it in the hands of Manolo, who was the bartender and could handle crowds of 200 people or more all by himself, or maybe with one helper. Crowds spilled into the street. Later, Manolo bought the "Duke of Wellington" and did well there.

After Tina's we would head over to a Disco, usually Boga Boga, where Juan Tijero was the Maitre'd. Juan died in a car accident in the 80's but his widow, Judith, and their two son's, still live on the Costa del Sol.

The Boga Boga was the cutting edge of Discos in the 70's. I'm sure there was no place finer in NYC or any other big city in the world. The Manager was a man (also) named Manolo who had previously managed the hotel Mamounia in Marakesh. He was a wonderful avuncular man, who loved jokes, and did not marry until he was in his late forties. He was married in the cathedral of Malaga and cried at his own wedding. Later his wife gave birth to a baby girl, Miriam, who was the light of Manolo's life. Unfortunately, Manolo suffered a stroke and passed away shortly after the birth of his adored daughter.

Ah, the stories that can be told about Torremolinos!

I would be glad to supply more little vignets of the life as it existed back then. Cabeza de Vaca, a good fellow that loved the women. Big Mike, a wonderful man who died on San Miguel one warm day. Little Lynn who was adopted by an English family and brought up on The Costa del Sol as one of their children.

Sue White, who had a heart of gold, and whose American husband died just as she was giving birth to there first child. After Franco, times changed and there is the story of the shooting murder in a disco of a pleasant Morrocan man who apparently owed some Germans money.

The unexplained fall of a woman from one of the Playamar towers---she left a 12 inch dent in the ground below. The story of a poor street artist who was paid to do a small drawing but left town. Three years later, he showed up and delivered the drawing.

A man comes to Torremolinos with his family, wife and children, and much to his own surprise, falls in love with a Spanish boy. He takes his family back to Great Britian and comes back to Spain where he and they boy live together and have a successful restaurant. Stuff like that.



67 comments:

  1. trying to locate some friends [if still alive] from the late 60s.
    Teddy Black
    Little Lynn [Cant remember last name]
    Meridith ?
    Pauline Montgomery
    Of course Tina from Tinas bar
    my email ciberstew10@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is Sloopy from the Smugglers. I have some info if your are interested. sloopy@telus.net

      Delete
  2. I think Teddy Black passed on,Pauline married to Monty?think they divorced and moved on.Little Lyn lives near Madeleines villa in Arroyo but I never see her not sure if Dinty Lyn would have her fone number.Tina moved back to Derby god years ago.Are you Stew from Stew and Steve?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Any more vignets Bob??or anyone?keep the memories coming pls

    ReplyDelete
  4. In the late 70's there were some German guys in town that were "gamblers". They used to hang out in Boga Boga, and we became acquainted.. They would prowl the outside bars in the day time, looking for someone alone reading a German newspaper. Then, they would ask the guy for some news about soccer or some other stuff from Germany, as they had been away from home so long, they were anxious to hear news. (never mind that could have gotten the same info by buying a 15 Peseta newspaper). They would befriend this fellow, take him to bars and discos, introduce him to willing girlfriends. The mark was just so thrilled that these "cool" guys took him under their wings.

    One day they would start a little shell game (real walnut shells)---where you have to guess the shell under which the little ball was. At first, they didn't let the guy play, but let him just guess where it was. When he guessed correctly---almost always---they would tell him what a great eye he had. The "gamblers" still wouldn't let him play (we don't want you to lose money) and lots of money ostensibly went back and forth between the crew. After the bets were placed the tourist would tell all where the ball was, but the gambler would always pick another shell. Eventually, the sucker would be allowed to play, and inevitably lost large sums of money. The "gamblers" had a big Russian fellow who would escort the mark to the bank so that he could pay his debt. It was rumored that the Russian had jumped ship in Barcelona after killing a fellow sailor. These "gamblers" would travel to Bangkok in the winter to ply their trade. I knew one of them better than the others---a "Brent". They usually had a girlfriend or two but weren't into multiple relationships. Brent explained once that they hustled all day and wanted to take a break at night. At the time, they hung out in Boga Boga at night, and took their prospective marks there, buying him drinks, arms around his shoulders, his new cool friends. Often, after the tourist lost all his money, the tourist would show up at Boga Boga and demand that they pay back his money. During that period, there was a fight in BB almost every night. Gambler dragging the mark up the stairs leading to the street---cause they didn't want to get banned from the club for fighting.

    In those days, lots of people invented schemes to be able to live in Torremolinos.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Omg!!Bob you certainly encountered some dodgy people!!My memories are much more boring and kinda weak next to yours!!One time Maddie and I and about 4 english girls we knew from around town got asked to go to a dinner party in Fuengirola to work as waitresses in a huge villa
    On arriving it was obvious it was a men only stag type do!most of them were already drunk and tried to maul us !Maddie and I were appalled they were,trying to make us drink spirits etc we decided to leave but they had a huge gorilla type security guy on the door so we went to the toilets and tried to climb outta the window!!Maddie had her head and top half of her body through and I was shoving her from behind!!She was much chunkier than me and we figured she'd never get through unless I pushed from behind!!Anyway as she got her head and top half out this security guy walked over Maddie just said 'omg!!It's so hot in there I had to get some air!!I "then I pulled her back in and we walked back into the room expecting abuse etc however one of the guys that was bit more pleasant and sober offered to drive us back to T town!We didn't get paid but hey we still had our self respect!!the other girls said they would stay as they needed the money we were promised. One time Ty Hardin came into the Duke of Wellington and tried to get us to go to a party at his place.When he started telling us he was at Mach One the night before but tripping Maddie and I were like "oh ok we have told Hamido to put a light on those stairs!!He thought we were crazy!!There were glass panels above the bar in Mach One and Hamido used to shine kinda kalaidescope patterns on them. One night he played the music so loud they were vibrating and eventually one shattered and fell on poor Maddie.I was dancing so didn't get hurt.Maddie was dazed but a large drink soon brought her round!!Another time a girl known as la Portugesa[ as she was from Portugal ]came in and asked Maddie could they talk!She was Maddie's current bf's ex anyway they went into the ladies and she asked Maddie was she seeing Eugenio Mad said yes.she then asked if she liked him and Mad again said yes.With that she grabbed Mad by the hair and swung her round and tried to flush her head down the toilet!!No one knew anything as you couldnt hear anything in the toilets.Mad came out sobbing and soaking Hamido banned the girl who then came to Mach One in different wigs and dark glasses etc form then on Spanish boys would come and point her out tho and after about 3wks she gave up.We laughed about it after but it was horrible at the time.Hope I'm not boring anyone lol Melva

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great story, Melva! Was "Eugenio" the Eugenio from Tina's and later the VIP club?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yeh the same one Bob kinda skinny,creepy little guy I didn't get on with him I found him very shady he also had the place above the Galloping for a while it used to be the lovely Victoria restaurant where Pearl and Porfi moved as John Bradley who had the Beachcomber was part owner there too.Which reminds me of the time John Bradley was off to Pamplona and asked us to look after his pregnant dachshund Trudi totally spoilt little dog!!i.When he dropped her off Mad and I were in bed and Pearl took he in +a cooked rotisserie chicken John had bought for her too eat.Anyway Pearl went to work at midday when Mad and I got up.We saw the chicken and thought how thoughtful Pearl been out and got us lunch!!We got some rolls and got stuck in it was lovely!!Later that night John picked up the dog from Pearl next day in the bar he asked her did you feed Trudi?Pearl said yeh.yeh the chicken was almost gone!!He said she had stolen a sandwich he made and was ravenous.Pearl came home and asked Mad and I if we fed Trudi the chicken!!No we ate it we said she was like omfg that was trudi's dinner. So Big Lou ate a cats lunch and we ate a dogs!! dinner at east ours was fit for human consumption tho.We did have lots of laughs back then Bob!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Two little stories: One night, a roommate, Tom, was invited to a wedding of a couple. The groom got drunk and passed out, Tom ended up sleeping with the bride---who may have been pregnant at the time. Another, a Danish chick who ended up living on the Costa, came down to Ttown on her honeymoon and stayed at Las Colinas. When she was there, she fell for some Spanish guy who had a little shop in the place. She ended up sleeping with him on her honeymoon and staying on the Costa for years.

      Doesn't give you much faith in the human condition, does it? But, that's the way it was in those days.

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  8. Omg!!bob kinda like the Godfather lo lThere was a lot of promiscuity in the 60's/70's. My mum bless her blamed rock n roll and the Beatles for free love oh and the pill of course!! melva

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yes, Mel, while I think promiscuity has always been around, it was particularly prevalent in the late 60's and 70's. There was the pill, and the absence of any STD that you couldn't cure with an inexpensive shot. Then along came AIDS at the end of the 70's decade. I well remember that the "sexual revolution" began to produce Bi-sexuals that were seen more and more often in Ttown and at the Boga Boga---German guys mostly---towards the end of the 70's. The advent of Aids took care of that. I remember wondering in those times that if sex was becoming so open and without social barriers, what would it be like for my children---if I ever had any?

    I wonder what Milania Dirienzo had to say?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was the 1st time us girls had ever seen a gay Bob!!Some of them we're so nice.Do you remember Pepe and I think his partner was Miguel? both worked in Tina's.Then there was Don the pianist in the Galloping.Once a few years back as we got back to Playamar in a cab while on holiday a tall,willowy blonde,wearing a black dress and high heel shoes got out of the cab in front.My husband started chatting as he does not realising it was a guy!!The next day we saw him/her in Supersol supermarket and she came straight over to my husband and started flirting it was hilarious!!I think we were lucky to be in T town when we were Bob? Mel

      Delete
  10. Yes, Mel, we were!

    After Ttown, I worked for an engineering company in the middle east, and took some vacations in Bangkok, Thailand. This is probably 1980/81. I was checking into a hotel (The Nana, if memory serves) and there was this expat looking fellow checking in next to me. A lot of oil field workers vacationed in Bangkok in those days. He was sort of a little guy with a gravely voice---in levis, might even had a hard hat. I noticed that he had a real heavy 5 o'clock shadow.

    OK later, I had been out on the town and came back to the Nana for a night cap. I went up to the bar and asked for a drink. Next to me was this lady, also ordering something to drink. I really paid no attention until I heard the voice. The "lady" was dressed in this pink chiffon "hoop" dress. high heals, and a little glitter purse. I looked again, and there was this heavy 5 o'clock shadow!

    The world's a funny place, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You got to work in some exotic places then Bob?Do you remember Betty's Bar in the San Miguel?she was an ex lady bullfighter and supposedly a cousin of our queen?Anyway a lady she was not lol she used to come into Three Barrels when Josie worked there f ing and blinding and shouting out stuff like "Hey slut empty the f ing ashtray!" josie needed the job so kept her mouth shut til one day Betty accused her off keeping 10 pesetas change from her drinks bill!!Josie opened the till took out a handful of coins and threw them in Betty's face saying "here you go drinks on me!" with that she walked outta the Barrels and her job!!lol On her 1st day in Andy's Corner Bar an american went in an asked for a screwdriver Josie left the bar and looked in Andy's little kitchen then said "sorry we don't have one"the guy thought she was a bit ditzy I think but never having worked in a bar she didn't realise it was a drink!!I'm kinda glad Sex on the beach cocktails were after our time cos if Josie had been asked for one she would have slapped whoever with a pan or something!!I have a really funny story about Marge from Harry's bar but will post it later Mel

      Delete
    2. I knew Betty the Bull fighter as she was a friend of my parents. She had been a London Hartnell model and was a a friend of the film star Ava Gardner but fell out when both fell for Frank Sinatra, who Ava later married. Betty married Major "Hammy" O'Malley Keeys and it was his first wife marriage that was short lived, he divorced Iris Mountbatten, a relative of the Queen.
      I was also told she was a friend of Hemmingway, who had a fascination for Bull fighting. It was also said she was in the ring fighting a Bull in a film where Ava Gardner falls for a matador.
      I was 9 when my parents moved to Benalmadena 1970-1990' and in those times there where such well known characters around.
      My parents met and became good friends of Jim Chapman & Don (the piano player) Jim had been married but ran off with Don, who played at the Galloping Major and at some point owned the BEACH comber around the corner.
      There was Paco Manoja & American George, Paco had owned BAR Central and was a true character. George owned a penthouse in playamar but also owned a house near by, bought off Trini St John (of pinewood studio fame) after Earl St John died. George didn't like his flat when it got to windy which is why he bought the town house. He had a full sized donkey in his hallway made of straw with a hard on!

      It was said Don & Jim bought the 120+ ft boat once belonging to the dead actor Erroll Flinn, only to find it sunk in the harbour.....

      The Irish Tennor Joseph Locke was also a friend and lived there from mid 70s while on the run from the tax man.
      I could go on & on....

      Delete
    3. My Email is angus-hughes@hotmail.co.uk

      Delete
  11. Towards the end of the 70's, there were lots of reports of tourists being robbed walking down---Calle Bajondillo? (need help here). It was the street that led from the bottom of San Miguel, down the hill to Playamar. Anyway, one night in the late 70's, I had finished up, and as I was living in Playamar at the time, walked to almost the end of San Miguel and turned left to go down the hill and head off to bed. It was usually a quiet little walk, passing a nice little hotel (Los Alamos, Los Arcos?---again, memory fails) on the South side side. About as I passed the hotel, there was a car carrying about 4 youngish, but big teenagers headed past me up the hill. As they passed by, one of them sort of hung out of a back window and gesturing towards me, said, "Ahi, ahi va uno!" The car proceeded up the hill and turned left to the parking area near the church. I turned and headed back up the hill. As I hit the top, the 4/5 teens came wheeling around the corner and ran smack into me. They all pulled up sharp. I asked, face to face,"Que Quiries?

    "Ahh, ahh, um, buscamos un bar 'Remi', was the answer. I told them I didn't have any idea where that was. They thanked me very nicely and headed up San Miguel.

    I couldn't help smile as I walked to Playamar. Maybe if any of them---now grown men, with kids and all, are reading this, they will smile too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. (i) The long hill down to playamar from the bottom of San Miguel which you can access via car is Calle Casablanca, bajondillo is a little further down below that

      Delete
    2. Thanks, Alfredo. What was the name of the little hotel on that hill? I always thought it would be a nice place to stay---balconies facing the sea, didn't look too expensive---but I never did. Maybe the next visit..........:-}

      Delete
  12. In the middle 70's there was this Spanish girl, Mary Carmen, that liked me, and I liked her. She had a young cousin, Victor, that she used to bring to Las Barcas pool. Her family had a Heladeria in Malaga---" La Carbonera", again, if memory serves.

    My usual schedule was to rise about 10 AM, have breakfast at the Bar Andalucia and walk down to Playamar. I would get in a little hour workout in their gym---which I had a key to---and then begin swimming lessons at !2, Noon. I would teach half hour lessons until 6 PM---12 of them! Then I would go for a run through the glittering cane fields and Fincas that were East of Playamar at the time. I would come back to Playamar and swim a few---maybe 10/20 laps, dry off, dress, and try to head up the hill. I didn't live in Playamar at the time. I hated that walk up the hill to my place in Apts, Miramar. And would often stick my thumb out.

    Sometimes, Mary Carmen would ask if I wanted a ride on her scooter. I would gladly accept. We were friends, but oddly for that time, not "that" kind of friends. She was studying music at the conservatory in Malaga---maybe had a Spanish "Novio". She spoke no English, but having to try to speak Spanish all the time was good for me. We would have dinner together----maybe at "Jacks" and enjoy each other's company.

    On evening, I had dinner with Mary Carmen and the she dropped me off at the Apts. Miramar. I hit the rack, but not at the usual Spanish siesta time, maybe 8 PM. I would sleep for an hour or two, get up, shower, and hit the streets, maybe a doble cafe con leche, and then Tina's.

    So there I am sleeping. Most Spanish were out of their homes at this time. I usually slept with no clothes on. While I'm well out, in my mental margin I hear this banging/crunching sound. At the time, my roommate, Don, and I lived on the top floor of the Apts Miramar. Don was not there.

    I went back to sleep. Another banging sound! I got up to see what was going on. As I sleepily walked into the "living room" I saw this fellow bent over, dressed in a suit---red jacket, trying to pry our patio door open with a large flat headed screw driver.

    I jerked the door open and he tied to jump over the fence that was between our Apt. and the next. I (naked) pulled him down. And grabbing him by the scruff of his neck led him into my bedroom.

    He apparently was afraid I would throw him off the building, and kept saying "take me to the police". I kept him between the door and me as I got dressed. Then I, grabbing him by his jacket, proceeded to attempt to take him to the police station. As we progressed, he would implore the surrounding crowd to help him in Spanish. Finally, as I began to see the situation beginning to get out of my control, I told him to give me your "carnet de Identidad" and I would let him go. He, at first claimed he didn't have one, but as I continued to drag him towards the police station---then sort of in front of the Bar Amsterdam---he relented, and gave me his identification. I turned him loose.

    Later, I told my friend Juan Tijero, at the Boga Boga, about this episode, and he said "all these ladrinos carry false papers, and he'll get away. However, a couple of days later, Juan told me that he had been captured in Malaga without ID and led the police to Malaga train station where he had a locker, and the police had recovered lots of things---even from the family that lived next door to me in Miramar.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brilliant memories Bob, keep them coming before memories fade further!

      Delete
    2. There were lots of thieves about Bob.I had my purse stolen outta my bag in Tiffanys I actually saw the little french guy who was living quite recently in t town take it!!I had my lovely Moroccan handbag ripped off my shoulder from a passenger in a car that slowed one night as I walked to Benyamina apts!We had a break in once at Miramar and Jeff's(corner bar)record collection+a large jar that had a few thousand pesetas in we used to place all our change in for a rainy day!However i always felt safe walking home even in hot pants etc and never heard of any women being sexually attacked..Sure you got the gropers on the Bajondillo steps during the day time but it was a a very safe town.Did you visit Las Barcas chiringuito on the beach near Principe Sol Bob?run by a lovely boy who is now a married man with 2 kids Pepe and his widowed mum.Pepe was a young boy when we first knew him around 1985 I think as we stayed at Principe for yrs when Lexy my daughter was growing up .Mel

      Delete
    3. Mel, I went to the Las Barcas beach restaurant often---maybe that was the "Las Barcas Chiringuito" you are talking about, but it was more in front of Playamar than the Principe Ottoman.

      For me, there were two periods of time and illegal activities in Spain. One was while Franco was alive. This was a truly idyllic time. People respected the Guardia Civil. The bars were packed with folks from all over the world, alcohol flowed, but there were very few fights (Marcus Miller excepted...:-} Tourists, especially ladies were safe. No knives, no guns. Drugs? There were none. If you were caught with a single joint, you went to jail for 6 years and a day. God forbid you were bothering some girls on the beach and they went and reported you to the Guardia, which would walk the Paseo in pairs all day---especially bad if you were Spanish.

      I had a couple of "secret" police friends. Carlos and Antonio. I think Antonio went on to be head of the Guardia in Malaga. I once trained Carlos, who lived in Playamar, to be a swimmer in the Spanish police Olympics. These guys knew I didn't have the right papers at the time, but never asked. They enforced the law where it mattered.

      After Franco died, it all changed, gradually, but it all changed. The last year I worked in Spain was 1978, but I returned and spent a week or so there once in awhile, until 1983 when I spent the summer renting a room from Andy Carmichael near Marbella. I haven't been back since.

      The change from the time of Franco to the 80's, just made me shake my head. There were tourist strong arm robberies in Malaga. High youth unemployment. I could often get a whiff of pot walking down San Miguel. Pornography sold in Kiosks. Democracy?

      Delete
    4. Yeh you crossed over from the Principe and walked along it was near Playamar but on the beach side must be the same one as Pepe's family have had the name since before his grandad who was a fisherman.It did all go down hill after Franco.I worked in Cleopatra club on and off and they had nice family type acts there.After Franco Josie and I went there as the guys always gave us cocktails etc we thought we were doped or something when we looked at the stage where usually it was a singer/juggler/belly dancer maybe.There were almost naked girls gyrating around poles and within seconds they were naked!!We never had work permits or even visas Bob and sure the police knew but as we stayed straight they turned a blind eye!!Now there are hundreds of Polish/Rumanian etc immigrants who live mainly around el Griego Hotel and Noche Dia from what I gather from an estate agent I know.A lot of brits still live around Miramar and the passageway where 3 Barrels is has a few English owned bars.The Corner Bar was a halal shop now it's a laundramatte.It was so nice there back in the day when we all knew each other and all the bar/club owners knew us and gave us jobs+drinks and even discounts on food lovely memories Bob. How do I contact Alfredo to post some pics I have of Tina's ?I go on his contact but it asks me for my email+my email password which I don't feel safe giving.Mel

      Delete
    5. Does anyone recall the daughter of the owner/proprietor of Beachcomber? In the early 80's she actually was a nanny for a local family in the area but her parents worked/owned the Beachcomber in 1983-1984 timeframe? Tom

      Delete
  13. Mel, go to the "Home" section above. Look for the line, "You can leave a comment on any of the sections or email me." Click on the "Email me" part and I think that will work. Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Or, try this which I just noticed on the board. Maybe it's new. alfredovoodoo@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. That's where I tried Bob when you click on email me it asks for your email +your email password not to worry they are black an white pics from tinas nothing too riveting!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. ps the alfredovoodoo email wouldn't send it kept failing

    ReplyDelete
  17. Mel, the "Afredovoodoo@gmail.com" works for me. Also, I went to the home connection and copied part of the email given, "bloy.boy@gmail.com" and it sent with no email back saying that it couldn't be delivered. Try again.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Alfredo writes: "Yessir I get either! This one always come through no probs good sir!"

    Hi Bob,

    Either email address is fine and I get emails from both to the same account.

    Many thanks for your continued input sir!
    Alfredo Bloy-Dawson

    Head of Marketing



    VoodooInternetMarketing.com

    VoodooProperty.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Iv'e sent them individually now Bob/Alfredo think they've sent ok? Mel

      Delete
  19. Used to hang out at Noel's bar back in the late seventies. Noel was married to Cecilia, a wonderful gal from the Philippines. Their little bar was in a little lane off San Miguel, if I remember correctly. A mostly youngish crowd of back packers hung out there. Wonder what happened to Noel and Cecilia...and to a certain Maria who tended bar...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMG!!! This is the first post I've seen about Noel's. I remember Cecilia very well. She would work hard introducing everybody to everybody else. It made every night there a party.

      Delete
  20. Used to hang out at Noel's bar back in the late seventies. Noel was married to Cecilia, a wonderful gal from the Philippines. Their little bar was in a little lane off San Miguel, if I remember correctly. A mostly youngish crowd of back packers hung out there. Wonder what happened to Noel and Cecilia...and to a certain Maria who tended bar...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I too remember Noel and Cecilia's place. It was one of my usual early evening stops as my ETOH level reached critical mass before grooving to "Daddy Cool" at the clubs. Noel would sometimes play his guitar at the outside tables. Hank Marvin stopped by one night and treated us to a sing along with "Street of London". Like many on this site, Torre got in our blood all those years ago, and there it remains.

      Delete
  21. Jimmy, I knew "Noel" when he worked for his mom in her Asian restaurant near Playamar. The whole family was from Singapore. He had a pretty sister who used to hang out but was looking for the $. Noel used to frequent Tina's. Maybe it was he who later started a bar of his own?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wonder if anyone can clear up the haze surrounding certain distant memories...used to go down to Torremolinos summers during late seventies to early eighties...always hung out in the same wonderful area of town, around San Miguel, and streets adjacent, going down the steps to the beach and so forth... then remember one night, following a group of friends we met, I sort of drifted to a whole other area of Torremolinos I never suspected existed...sort of like a Vegas Strip of night clubs further off from my own personal Party Central...anybody know what I'm talking about, and can give a name to that area? Thanks and regards!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jimmy,
      The only place I can think of at that time period was "La Nagolera". But, you would have had to make a right turn before the end of Calle San Miguel

      Chuck

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  23. Bob,
    My name is Cara. My brother Stevan Dalrymple and I took swim lessons from you back in the 80's.
    Our mother is Gay Theodore, her boyfriend was the one that had the Volkswagen Beetle draped in the American Flag.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Should read 70's not 80's. we lived in Miramar, Torremolinos from 1968 to 1980.

      Delete
    2. Hi Cara, thanks for posting. I hope you and your family are doing well. Where are you now?

      Delete
    3. Living in Virginia Beach. Stevan, my older brother, was killed in a plane crash Oct. 2001 with 11 other Americans. They were on their way to Algeciras and presumably the plane went down over Valencia. No bodies were ever recuperated. That is when my mum, Gay, started to deteriorate. Never got over it. She is living in Darlington, England. Suffers from Dementia, but is well taken care of. My younger brother, David, also lives here in Virginia Beach.

      Delete
    4. Cara, I'm so sorry about your brother! You probably have some photos of the era that you might share with others. Post them to Torremolinoschic.com, where you will also find photos that others have posted. Keep the history of those golden times alive!

      Delete
  24. Did anyone live in Playmar in the 70's. I lived there from 1970 to 1979, my family had Rosa English Tea Room in Playmar. I would love to hear from anyone that might know me or knew our Tea Room.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Does anyone remember Luisa, the barmaid, at Boga Boga? She was from Scotland. Also, did anyone know Antonio Fernandez-Jimenez from the record store Mi Sol on San Miguel?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember Luisa---tall good looking blond, Spanish boyfriend, bit of an attitude.

      Delete
  26. I lived in the Hotel Maite on the Benalmadena Costa for a number of months, then the Las Naciones apartments in Benalmadena. Also lived in Los Geminis in Arroyo for some time.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Kathy Milne, I had such a strong dream about you last night (4-23-2020). I hope you are well and have had a great life---children? I often remember the time we had in Torremolinos. Good night girl.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi Bob John Tipton here. I was there in 72 through 74 and had the Old Crow for a time. My son sent me the pic of Barbara my first wife and my son John. He is a emmy qward winning cinemaphotographer and my younger son who is a screen play writer editor are working on a piece now. I am on fb as john s tipton. Have some photo in storage which will share although will be some time as they are in Georgia in storage and I live in Jodphur India. I am in contact with Trina and Sharon. Best John my email is johnstiptonii@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi John, nice to hear from you. And, that your son(s) are doing so well. I don't think I knew Trina or Sharon. There were some good times back then, no? Keep well.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Torremolinos fue un beso sorpresa en la noche. Torremolinos era jazmín en el aire. Torrmolinos era una vida dentro de una vida y Torremolinos era un poco de cielo.

    ReplyDelete
  31. In the spring of 1975 I was in Torremolinos for a few months and I used to play live music at the Duke of Wellington.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had a friend in Torremolinos about that time that played at the Duke as well as The Galloping Major, an Australian guy. Could that have been you?

      Delete
    2. Although my name is Charlie Major I'm from Canada. I remember a couple of British fellas that played there as a duo. It's all a little hazy. It was the 70"s, I'd just turned twenty and was indulging in some self medicating with smoke and drink. Fortunately I grew out of those times and went on to have a good career in music. I look back now and find it hard to believe it's been 46 years. Where did the time go?

      Delete
    3. Thanks, Charlie. I'm Bob Reed I probably have enjoyed listening to you play. I was first in Torremolinos for the summer of 70, and was there from then until after the summer of 78. Sometimes, I would leave in the winters for a little mystery tour---Africa, South America, etc., but always back for the summers. Where did you live in Torremolinos?

      Delete
  32. Hi Bob do you remember me Brian big johns mate

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hey, Brian. I need a little more info---after all it has been more than 50 years, no? Was "Big John" that you were friends with the Big John that tended bar in Tina's the summer of 1970?

    ReplyDelete
  34. was there in 78' fantastic time...met a girl called Fatima...gave me a two weeks I'll never forget....there was a disco...with a moat?? also wall bar on a street corner and I think The Duke of Wellington Bar...any old photo's?

    ReplyDelete